Skengdo and AM Get Suspended Prison Sentences for Making UK Drill

Both members of UK drill act Skengdo x AM were handed 9-month prison sentences, suspended for two years, on Friday, BBC News reports. Skengdo (Terrell Doyley) and AM (Joshua Malinga) pleaded guilty to breaching an injunction that prevents them from threatening rivals, even if the threats occur in the course of their musical output as drill rappers and do not relate to specific acts of violence. It appears to be the first prison sentence stemming from controversial legislation that puts UK drillers at the mercy of police censorship. If they release music adjudged to incite violence against rivals, police argue they should be treated like terrorists.

Police ordered the injunction against Doyley and Malinga, who are both 21, last year after determining that they were members of a gang in south east London, though their manager told Press Assocation they have not been involved in gang violence. The manager said they pleaded guilty after concert footage appeared on the internet without their knowledge.

Detective Inspector Luke Williams said, “I am pleased with the sentences passed in these cases, which reflect that the police and courts are unwilling to accept behaviour leading to serious violence. The court found that violence in drill music can, and did in this case, amount to gang-related violence.”

Last year, YouTube removed dozens of music videos as part of a crackdown on UK drill, which British police claim is linked to a surge in stabbings in London. Police say that they asked the site to take down 50 to 60 videos over the last two years.